Films of the week

The Sapphires
This is an inspirational tale set in the late ’60s about a quartet of young, talented singers from a remote Aboriginal mission, discovered and guided by a kind-hearted, soul-loving manager. Plucked from obscurity, the four spirited women with powerhouse voices – called The Sapphires – are given the opportunity to entertain US troops inVietnam. Catapulted onto the world stage as Australia’s answer to the Supremes, their journey of discovery offers them not only the chance to show off their musical skills, but find love and togetherness, experience loss and grow as women.

Rust and Bone
Ali finds himself with a five year-old child on his hands. Sam is his son, but he hardly knows him. Homeless, penniless and friendless, Ali takes refuge with his sister inAntibeswhere things improve immediately. She puts them up in her garage and takes the child under her wing. During a night club brawl Ali runs into Stephanie, who trains killer whales. He drives her home and leaves her his phone number. He is poor, she is beautiful and self-assured. When one of her training sessions ends in tragedy, a call in the night brings them together again. When Ali sees her next, she is using a wheel chair because she has lost her legs – and, with them, quite a few illusions. Ali helps her without pitying her, and Stephanie gains new strength to continue living her life in a positive way.